Spring suspension for wheeled vehicles



Jan. 19, 1943.

J. H.'GRAHAM f 2,308,750

SPRING SUSPENSION FOR WHEELED VEHICLE-1S iled Dec. 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l N E.. m

G vwefntoi JQHNH nac-Torx@ RAI-IAM omQ Jan. 19, 1943. .1.I H. GRAHAM SPRING SHSPENSION FOR WHEELDz-,VEHICLS Filed Dec. 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR JGHN H ECT'QRORAHAM ATTORNEY,

Patented Jan. 19, 1943 UNITED SPRING SUSPENSION Foa WHEELED VEHICLES John Hector Graham, New York, N. Y. IApplication December 21, 1940, Serial No. 371,076

3 Claims.

"This invention relates to improvements in resilient mountings for the saddles or holsters vof heavy wheeled vehicles, Aas trucks, etc., and more particularly to types as used in rail and highway vehicles.

Since builders of `wheeled vehicles have been using springs of Aany kind, they estimated the Weight to be supported on ythe springs, and the maker of the `springs guessed or roughly calculated springs thought to be suitable for vthe load, this being the present prevailing method.

Expressed in simple terms, the riding quality and stability of a Wheeled vehicle at high speed is ydependent on the manner in which the weight of the vehicle is distributed over the length "of the wheelbase under initialtension.

Engineers used lthe term mass, vwhen referring to the entire gross weight, which consists of sprung weight and "unsprung weigh sprung weight being the total weight of all parts supported lby the springs, and unsprung weight, the litems not supported on springs, but forming parts of the Vehicle. y

t is axiomatic that the, jvehicle with relatively great unsprung Weight will rideharder than one with a'less unsprung'weig'h't.

Having these matters in mind, it has been an object of this invention to provide a series of multiple springs, preferably helical-because of the lesser space occupied-so arranged as tointerpose their lresilient 'effect between the axle boxes and their housings, by initial tension, in a manner to minimize, reduce and absorb, in an unusually effective manner, all jars, shocks and Vibrations caused by an uneven road bed, rail joints, track imperfections, irregularities in the rotundity of the vehicle -wheels and other vdefective conditions.

A further feature islin the provision of means whereby the resilient 'support structure may be made far lighter in weight than ordinary mountings as commonly employed, and occupy a minimum of space.

Another purpose is to produce a resilient mounting for trucks that is easily assembled or dismounted, possessed of adequate strength and is of good workmanlike appearance.

These and other advantageous objects, as will later appear, are accomplished by the novel design, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accomlpanying drawings, constituting an essential component of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary end elevational View of one embodiment I'of the invention, showing it as assembled infa truck pedestal.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken -on line A2--2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is 'a similar sectional view showing a modified arrangement of springs;

' Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational View showing a combination of coil and leaf springs.

Figure 5 is a similar View 'of `another modification in construction.

AFigure `6 is atop plan view of another embodiment y'of the invention.

Figure 'l'is a transverse sectional view taken on line 'I-'1 of Figure 6.

Figure-Bis a front 4elevational view of the same. In all the several views are shown a portion of a lconventional type of vehicle truck frame, designated generally by the numeral I5, the same having pairs of depending lugs I6, constituting forks, between which is -slidably contained the usual axle box or journalV l1, these elements being shown 'for the purpose of' clarity only.

Ordinarily some form of-spring, without initial tension, as double lor semi-elliptic, or powerful helically coiled springs uncontrolled are interposed between the box l1 and saddle or bridge 'I8` between the forks, to afford some degree of resilience.

In the preferred ltype, indicated in Figures 1 and 2, the frame saddle l5-s bifurcated, presenting a space i9, disposed at a right angle to the opening 'for the journal Il, and arranged intermediate the side walls of this space is a yoke 20 having angularlyl downturned end portions 2l terminating Vin semi-circular up-turned forks 22 which contain centralrecesses 23.

Bolts 25, having T-'shaped heads 26, pass through the recesses, their heads being seated in the forks 22 and their threaded shanks provided=with nuts2 1.

Above, and resting on the nuts, are strong disc washers 28, supporting helically coiled compres-k sion springs 29, under initial control, their upper ends abutting against channels 30 rigidly fixed to the side Walls of the space I9.

The raised central portion of the yoke 20 has at its under side, a pad 3| positioned above the journal l1 to receive the thrust of a single, heavy helical spring 32, seated on the annular flange 33 of an inverted cup 34, which in turn receives the thrust of a similar but smaller helical spring 35, seated on the upper side of the box Il. f

In the form shown in Figure 3, the yoke 20 has on the underside of its raised portion, integral pads 36 to enter the open, upper ends of a Yupper sides ofthe box. Y

pair of helical springs 31 seated on the upper side ofthe box I1, all other parts being as previously described.

In the modification seen in Figure 4, a plurally layered leaf spring 40 is held by a central clamp 4I to the top of the journal boxy I1, the ends of the spring carrying seats 42 recessed to receive the T-shaped heads 26 of the bolts 25, which are arranged in the manner before described.

Figure 5 discloses Va device similar to. that shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the exception that blocks 45 of rubber, or even Wood, are subasoavso 'l even plane of irregularities they are running on.

When the vehicle is empty, the springs 29-60 counteract its empty weight; when the vehicle is loaded, or partly loaded, the initial controlis in these springs.

If the wheels pass over irregularities in the road bedV these springs instantly act and follow every up-and-down movement of the wheels,

While the vehicle body floats along with its contents perfectlyV poised;`

It is to be understood that the invention is not .conned to the use of helically coiled springs as stituted Vfor the springs 372-35, the ends of the'V blocks being provided with caps 46, held in place `l5 by rods 41 entering the upper end of the journal box I1, and passing Ythrough openings in the yoke 20.

In the further modied form, seen in Figures Y In applying the springs to this type of construction, an opposed pair of brackets 52 are iixed on opposite sides of the web on both sides of the box I 1, these brackets having outstanding ilanges bored to act as guides for bolts 53 passing through them. Y

These bolts have heads 54 seated on the ends of yoke bars 55 carried on the outstanding flanges of channel shaped bolstersv 56, disposed in the space above the boxes I1 and -arepressed upwardly by strong helical springs 51 seated on the The bolts 53 are provided with initially tensioning nuts .58at their lower ends and resting on the nuts are Washers 59 on which are seated theV lower ends of helical springs, 60, abutting the underside of the viiangesvof the brackets52, mate- Y initial tension nuts 21-58Hare screwed upon the bolts 25--53 untiLthe Weight of the frame is lifted, by compression ofthe spiralsprinags 29-60,fthe blocks then being removed; the frame, sprun Weigh "is now iioating, no guess work'. v g

The smallerhelical springs 29-60 carry the empty vehicle and varying loads cause the springs to compress and expand with every rise and descent of the Wheels as they move over the u n- 'any other form of spring may besubstituted therefor without departing from the spirit of the I invention.

It will be apparent that other modications may be made tov suit conditions without the exercise of invention within the scope and spirit of the claims,

Having thus Vdescribed the invention, what is claimed as new andsought to secure by Letters Patent, is: 4 l a 1,. In combination with a Wheeled vehicle structure comprising a bodyand truck, said truck including axle-boxes, `rigid yokes disposedover said boxes, spring devices intermediate said boxes and yokes, means ,onsaid yokes 4to retainsaid spring devices in assembled position, Vpairs lof spaced counterpoising springs atthe ends of said yokesadapted tocarryY the Vehicle body when empty and means tol adjust each of said springsVv separately.

l 2. In coirbination,v a wheeled vehicle structure comprising a body and chassis, said chassis including axle-boxes, yokes disposed over said boxes, spring devicescomprising inner and outer coils intermediate'saidrboxes and yokes, inverted cups n having iianges disposed between said inner and outer coils, brackets on said body adjacent` theV ends of said yokes, bolts engagingrthe ends of said yokes and extending through, said brackets, e Vsprings coiled around the said bolts abutting the under sides Vof. said brackets, and means to adsprings surrounding said bolts, meansfor adjusting the compressioxfrof` said/springltoV carrythe unsprungjweight of said vehicle, and'helically wound springs intervening` said box and yoke, one of said helically wound springs being of relatively greater diameter than the other` andarranged circumjacent thereto.

Y Y JOHN HECTOR GRAHAM. 

